Pile-driving engine.



A. B. CLARK.

PILE DRIVING ENGINE.

APPLIGATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1905. BBNBWBD'NOV. 1a, 1000.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

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PILE DRIVING ENGINE.

APPLICATION I'ILBD SEPT. 5, 1905. BBNEWED Nov. 18, 1 909. 1,023,248.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

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` PILE DRIVING ENGINE. APPLICATION FILED- SEPT. 5, 1905. RENEWED NOV.18, 1909.

1,023,243. Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@3% I l l AMASA B. CLARK, 0F NEW YORK, N.'Y.

PILE-DRIVING ENGINE.

Specification. of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 16, 1912.

Application filed September 5, 1905, Serial No. 276,916. RenewedNovember 18, 1909. Serial No. 528,767.

gines, of which the following is a full, true,

and concise specification.

My invention is an improvement in pile driving engines and its object isto provide simple, effective and compact apparatus for sinking piles ofall kinds, but especially.

tubular steel piles.

A special object of the invention is to proj vide an improved piledriving engine of the kind adapted to be supported, vertically and alsolaterally, by the pile which it is driving.

A further object is to provide means for driving and jetting tubularpiles whereby the water-jet may be used simultaneously or in conjunctionwith a reciprocating hammer or other kind of ramming device, withoutnecessarily interrupting or disturbing the operation of the latter orrequiring special fittings to the pile itself.

Still further objects are to provide a pilesustained pile driving enginethat is adapted to be self-sustaining on a variety of sizes of piles,that has its center of gravity near to the head of the pile, and that iscapable of operation close up to an existing wall and also of otheradvantages which will appear below.

A preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the machineshown on the accompanying three sheets of drawings which form parthereof, but it will be understood that the principles of the inventionor any of them, can be adapted to other forms of pile-driving apparatuswith the same advantage.

Referring to these drawings: Figure 1 is a top plan view of the piledriving engine showing the valve rod in section and the r valve indotted lines; Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal section view on line 2 2of Fig. l and looking in the direction of the arrows; Fig. 3 is asimilar view taken through the valve mechanism and showing the base ofthe apparatus in elevation with some of the weights removed; Fig. 1 isa. transverse sectional view on line H of Fig. 2 showing the base andthe weights in plan; Fig. 5 is a detail of the follower block and anvil,part of said View being in transverse section through the anvil; Fig. 6is a detail of the anvil, sections removed; Figs. 7 and 8 arerespectively side and plan views of the apparatus of Figs. 1 to 6,supplied with a modified arrangement of weights; Fig. 9 is a detailshowing a modiiied form of valve operating means; Fig. 10 is a top -viewof a modification of Fig. 1,being partly shown in horizontal sectionthrough the valve mechanism, which, in this form, is carried by thecylinder; Fig. 11 is a central longitudinal section of Fig. 10 withparts in elevation, showing relation of the valve ports and feed tube;and Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the cylinder of Fig. 11 showing thevalve mechanism in vertical section.

In the machine illustrated in the above described drawings, the hammerelement is incorporated with the motor mechanism by which it isoperated, and the relatively stationary part of the motor mechanism isattached to or forms the mounting by which the apparatus as a whole issupported upon and by the pile head. Steam or other form of motivepower, such as may be transmitted through flexible connections, may bethe agency used to operate the motor. In the fluid-pressure motormechanism of the machine illustrated, the piston-rod 1 and its piston 2are the stationary members of the motor mechanism, while the cylinder 3is the reciprocating member, the bottom portion thereof, constitutingthe hammer face. By using the cylinder as the hammer element, advantageis taken of the larger mass of the cylinder casting. The stationarypiston rod 1 is attached at its upper end to a cross-head 7 and thelatter is carried on two parallel side rods 8, being bolted theretoagainst the collars as shown. The two sidev rods are disposed onopposite sides of the piston and cylinder and are connected at theirlower ends to the base 9 which is a body of considerable mass adapted tot the end of the pile. In its preferred form the base 9 is formed withvan annular skirt or projection which fits or telescopes, like a cap,over' the outside of the end of the pile, extending downwardly thereon asutlicient distance to sustain the apparatus in substantial alinementwith thev pile without other lateral support.y This mode of support,:which may be properly termed telescopic, allows the pile driving engineto be brought into action upon the pile by simply placing it thereon,without previous preparation of the pile or special attachments, andalso permits its removal with like facility. The annular portion of thebase is adapted to receive an interior filler-ring 10 which is soconnected thereto as to be readily removable and thereforeinterchangeable with other rings of dierent internal diameters, thisprovision being for the purf pose of accommodating the base 9 todifferent sizes of piles with the proper lateral support. A filler ringsuch as shown in the present drawings is required to be secured to theskirt of the base with provisions for vertical movement with respectthereto, and, in t-he present case the connection is made by means ofthe countersunk pins 11 projecting through vertical slots 12 in theskirt, as shown more clearly in Fig. 3. The ring can, however, befastened rigidly to the skirt at a proper distance below the top of thepile, if desired. The base 9 rests vertically on the upper edge of thepile through the interposition of the follower block 5,

which is held by or in the chamber within I the base in such manner thatit may move i vertically therein to follow the pile under When thehamthe stroke of the hammer. mer is at rest or during its upstroke, theinterior annular ledge 13, overhanging the margin of the follower blockforms the bearing by which the base rests on the block and pile. In thepresent instance, the follower block is movably held in place by severalcounter sunk pins 14, (Fig. 3) which project through vertical slots inthe skirt o-f the base. It will be understood that the length of theseslots is suiiicient to accommodate the full normal movement of thefollower block so that the impact of the hammer will be at no timeexerted against the part which I have termed the base or against anypart rigidly connected thereto, or to the piston.

According to this invention the organization of motor, hammer andsupporting elements, related as above described or in any other way, isprovided with a longitudinal aperture, preferably extending from end toend thereof and separate from the operating mechanism to provide anisolated passageway leading through the pile driving engine, from t-heoutside of the tubular pile to the interior thereof and affording ameans fwhereby'water or a water-jet-pipe may be introduced to loosen thesoil at the point of the pile and thus aid its descent in the well.known manner. This aperture is desirably, but not necessarily, providedwith a lateral vent or opening for the escape of the mixed water andsoil which is forced out by the jetting water. In the organization abovedescribed the jet-ting aperture is provided in part by the piston rod 1,which is hollow and in part by a hollow tail rod 15 which is extendedfrom the piston 2 through the hammer face 4, and into the follower block5 which is annular for this purpose. The tail rod 15 being fast to thepiston, is st-ationary and the follower block has therefore a sliding ortelescopic engagement therewith, as will be readily understood. Belowthe end of the tail rod the follower block is formed with a lateralopening 16 constituting the vent above mentioned which normallyregisters with a corresponding opening 17 in the skirt of the base. Ajet pipe J is intended, to be inserted into the tubular pile while thedriving mechanism is in place on the pile, or in actual operation, andthe water therefrom, hav-ing dislodged the soil at the point of thepile, escapes through the follower block and the opening 17 in theskirt. It may, however, be allowed to escape over the top of thejet-pipe aperture, if preferred, in which case means should be providedto conduct it away from the operating mechanism. f

The motor mechanism in the illustrated machine, being intended foroperation by fluid pressure, is provided with a valve-box 19 formed onor attached to the cross-head 7 in Figs. 1 to 3 and containing asuitable valve or valves which are adapted to be actuated by means of acam and groove engagementwith the valve-rod 20, which latter is 100carried by the arm 20" fast on the reciprocating hammer cylinder. Fluidpressure enters the valve-box by way of feed-pipe 21 and is alternatelyintroduced, by means of the valve, into the ports 22 and 23 which 105lead respectively to the parallel lfeed tubes 24 and 25, the latterhaving sliding engagement in suitable channels in the side of thecylinder. From these tubes the fluid pressure passes through ports 26and 27, re- 110 spectively, to the interior of the cylinder on oppositesides of the piston, the charges being properly exhausted therefrom bythe same paths and through the exhaust port 28 in the cross-head. Thetwo parallel tubes 115 24 and 25 may be secured to the cross-head asshown in Fig. 3, a little to one side of the cylinder, and in order toavoid .the danger of distortion of the tubes during the operation of themachine, the cylinder is 12@ provided with a lug or lugs 29 having asliding and steadying engagement with the siderods S to keep it fromturning on its piston. The annular hammer 4 imparts its energy to thepile through the follower block 5 and 125 the latter may receive theblow of the hammer upon an anvil which may be secured to its upper facewithin the annular supporting base 9, in any convenient manner. Thepresent invention, however, includes a novel 139 mode of attachment ofthe anvil, which is especially serviceable where the anvil is requiredto be of annular shape, as in the case in hand. Referring to Figs. 2 to6, the anvil is composed of several sections or circular segments 30which together make up a sectional ring with the sections divided onsubstantially radial lines. Each segment is wider at the base than atthe top so that the bases will be adapted to fit in the undercut grooveor recess 31 in the top of the follower block 5. The segments are placedin proper relation in the recess 31 and the insertion of a key 32between two of them causes the whole to spread or expand outwardly,binding against the outer circular wall of the recess. The key 32, wheninserted, is pinned to a lug 33 on the follower block, the severalsegments being thereby locked in expanded position beneath the undercutwall of the recess, or at least in locking engagement therewith.

The weights 34 which provide inertia to the device and absorb the energyof the hammer cylinder at the end of its upward stroke l are locatedaround the outside of the skirt of the base 9, in part at least belowthe level of the pile end, being preferably separably connected theretoby means of links 35 which links are fastenedA to the bosses 36 of thecap, there being one weight on each side of the machine arrangeddiametrically opposite each other so that the apparatus may be usedwithout interference on piles which have to be driven close to someexisting wall or other structure. In Figs. 7 and 8, which show the samekind of a pile-driving engine, four weights are located symmetrically atequal distances around the cap, but the advantage of additional weightsmay be also secured in themachine shown in Figs. 1 to 3, if desired, bymeans of theradditional weights 37 which rare secured to an upwardextension 35 of the links 35 and fit over the lower weights 34.

Fig. 9 shows a modification of the valve operating means of Figs. 1-3.In this figure the part having the cam groove is carried by thereciprocating hammer cylinder and serves to rock the valve-rod 37,fulcrumed on stud 38 carried by bracket 39 on the cross-head, the upperend of cam-rod 37 being connected with the projected end of the valvestem so as to reciprocate the same. This form of valve operation may, ofcourse, be supplied to the machine of Figs. 1 3 in obvious manner.

The modification shown in Figs. 10-12 differs from the machinepreviously described in having the valve mechanism carried bodily by thereciprocating hammer cylinder instead of upon the cross-head, theadvantages of this construction being mainly that the mass of the valvecasing is thereby added to that of the cylinder providing greatermomentum, and that but a single tube is required to conduct the pressurefrom the cross-head or other stationary part of the apparatus to thereciprocating cylinder. The valve casing is formed as an integral partof the cylinder casting and the piston-valve 40 therein is horizontallydisposed. Compressed air or other motive fluid is supplied from thefeed-pipe 41 of the cross-head to the single tube 42 which is secured tothe latter and has a sliding or telescopic connection in a channel 43 atthe side of the cylinder adjacent to the valve (see Fig. 10). Thechannel 43 opens into the valve-chamber, and from thence the fluidpressure is directed alternately into the ports 44 and 45 which leadinto the cylinder respectively on opposite sides of the piston. Thevalve is shown herein as a piston-valve moved by the fluid pressure, butinasmuch as this invention does not concern the specific style o-fvalve, it will be sufficient for the purposes hereof to note that theappropriate timing of the same may be effected by means of the two camsurfaces 46 and 47 which are carried respectively by the two cam rods48, the latter being fast on the cross-head, and that the exhaust maytake place directly from the valve casing to the atmosphere, as shown at89. Other valve mechanism and operating means therefor may be employed,however, with equal effect. In this form of apparatus the cylinder isprovided with two removable heads 49, 50 which are held in place bymeans of four tie bolts. One or both heads may be supplied with stuffingboxes, if desired, and a separate striking face may be secured to thelower head 49 to preserve it from upsetting or swelling against the tailrod 15, which it surrounds.

I claim- 1. A pile driving engine comprising a follower block adapted torest on the end of the pile, a base resting on the follower' blo-ck andhaving telescopic supporting engagementwith the pile, and motor andhammer elements carried by the base in operative relation with thefollower block.

2. A pile driving engine comprising a follower block forming thesolevertical support for the pile driving engine upon the end of thepile, a base movably resting on the follower block with a downwardextension below the same forming the sole lateral support for the piledriving engine and motor and hammer elements carried by the base inoperative relation to the follower block.

3. A pile driving engine comprising a pile-supported base extendeddownwardly below the top of the pile for lateral support on the sidesthereof and independent of the hammer element in combination with apiston carried by the base, a reciprocating hammer cylinder inclosingthe piston and' means for conducting fiuid pressure to the cylinder toreciprocate the same.

4. A pile driving engine comprising a base adapted for vertical supporton a pile end and extended downwardly for engagement with the sides o-fthe pile independent of the hammer element, in combination with a pistonrod and piston on the base, a reciprocat-ing hammer cylinder on the rodand piston, and valve gearing adapted to introduce fluid pressure intosaid cylinder' alternately on opposite sides of the piston therein.

5. A pile driving engine comprising a base provided with an annulardepending skirt adapted to engage the end of a tubular piletelescopically in combination with motor mechanism normally supported inthe vertical direction upon the base, and a hammer element actuated bysaid mechanism to impart its energy to the pile independently of thebase.

6. A pile sustained pile driving engine having a base with a portionadapt-ed to extend below the top of the pile and provided with uprightside members supported by the base, in combination with a pistonfastened to the side members and vertically supported thereon and ahammer cylinder inclosing the piston, having Iron-rotative slidingengagement with the upright side members.

7. A pile driving engine comprising a base forming a containing chamberadapted to embrace'the pile end and a follower block in the chambervertically supporting the base on the pile end, in combination withmotor mechanism secured to the base and includ.- ing a hammer elementadapted to impart its energy to the follower block.

8. Al pile driving engine comprising a base forming a chamber andcontaining a movable follower block upon which the base is supported, incombination with a piston rod and piston fixed to the base, a hammercylinder inclosing the piston and means for reciprocating the cylinderagainst the follower block, comprising a fluid pressure medium and valvegearing to introduce the same alternately to opposite sides of the saidpiston.

9. A pile driving engine comprising a base forming a chamber andcontaining a movable follower block upon which said base is verticallysupported on the pile end, in combination with upright side membersrising from the base, double-acting fluid pressure motor mechanismcarried on the upright part, including a cylindrical hammer havingnon-rotative sliding connection with the upright part and adapted toimpart its energy to the follower block.

10. In a pile driving engine, the combination with a motor driven hammermechanism of a supporting means therefor com prising a cap for the endof the pile, a follower-block adapted to rest on the end of y the pileand support the cap thereon, said block being free for longitudinalmovement with respect to said cap under the impact of the hammer elementof the mechanism.

11. In a pile driving engine, a stationary piston rod and piston, areciprocating hammer cylinder surrounding the same and means forsupporting said piston rod and piston on the pile comprising a base witha circular skirt fitting around the end of the pile and a longitudinallymovable follower block interposed between the base and the end of thepile, adapted to transmit the downward pressure of the former to thelatter.

12. In a pile driving engine, a pile-sustained motor mechanism,including a hammer element, a base on which said mechanism is carriedand a follower block supporting said base, provided with a raisedstriking-face or anvil in the path of said hammer element.

13. In a pile-driving engine, a stationary piston rod and piston andmeans for supporting the same on a pile comprising a follower blockadapted to rest on the pile, an annular base resting on the margin ofsaid block and having side members connected with said piston rod, incombination with a raised striking-face or anvil on said follower blockwithin t-he annular base and a hammer cylinder surrounding the pistonand adapted to be reciprocated against said anvil, to impart its energythrough thefollower block to the pile.

14C. In a pile-driving engine, a supporting base therefor provided witha depending portion adapted to extend below the top of the pile and aremovable and interchangeable filler piece secured to said dependingportion, in combination with motor mechanism carried by the base andincluding a hammer element operative to drive the pile.

15. In a pile driving engine, a pile-sustained annular base, a fillerpiece removably secured thereto, a follower block in the base and motormechanism including a hammer element operative to strike the block.

16. In a pile driving engine, a base, motor mechanism carried thereonincluding a tail rod extended within the base and an annular followerblock adapted for vertical play between the tail rod and base andadapted to impart its movement to the pile.

17. As a means for driving tubular piles, a motor-driven hammermechanism adapted to be supported by the pile which it drives and havingan aperture through which a jet pipe may be projected into the interiorof said pile.

18. As a means for driving tubular piles, a motor-driven hammermechanism adapted to close the end of the Vpile upon which it issupported and having a longitudinal aperture, extending from endV to endthrough said mechanism suitable for the reception of a jet-pipe.

19. As a means for driving tubular piles, a motor-drivenhammer-mechanism adapted to iit over and close the end of the pile uponwhich it is supported and having a longitudinal jet-pipe aperture and alateral orice for the escape of the contents of said tubular pile.

20. In an apparatus for driving tubular piles, a motor comprising apiston and cylinder, and a hammer element operated thereby, said pistonand hammer element being provided with a longitudinal aperture toreceive a jet-pipe.

21. Apparatus for driving tubular piles comprising a stationary pistonrod and piston provided with a cent-ral aperture to receive a jet pipeand a reciprocating hammer cylinder surrounding said piston, .adapted toimpart its energy to the pile. n

22. Apparatus for driving tubular piles comprising an annular baseadapted to be supported by the end of the pile, an annular hammerelement, and a cylinder and a hollow piston for reciprocating the same,in combination with a hollow tail rod on said piston extended towardsaid annular base, and providing in conjunction with said hollow pistona continuous aperture through the said apparatus leading into theinterior of the pile.

23. In a pile-driving engine for tubular piles, the combination with amotor-driven hammer-mechanism, of means for supporting the samecomprising a base adapted to close the end of the pile and provided witha discharge orifice leading from the interior of said pile.

24. In a pile driving engine for tubular piles, the combination with amotor hammer mechanism provided with a longitudinal aperture suited forthe recept-ion of a jet pipe, and means for supporting the saidmechanism comprising a base adapted to be supported on the end of saidpile, of a follower block having longitudinal movement with respect tosaid base, said block and base being provided with lateral apertureslforming a discharge passage from the interior of the pile.

25. In a pile-driving engine for tubular piles, a motor-drivenhammer-mechanism and means for supporting the same on the end of thepile, comprising a cap adapted to fit over said pile and having alateral discharge oriiice, an apertured follower block within the cap,the apertures in said cap and base providing an escape passage from theinterior of the pile.

26. In a pile-driving engine for tubular piles, a follower block adaptedto rest on the pile having a vertical aperture for the reception of ajet pipe, and a lateral aperture for the escape of the contents of thepile.

27. In a pile-driving engine for tubular piles, a motor-driven hammermechanism comprising a hollow piston rod and piston, a cylinder thereforand means for supporting said mechanism on the pile, in combination withan annular follower block and a tubular. extension on said pistonextending within said annular block.

28. In a pile-driving engine for tubular piles, a hollow piston rod andpiston and means for supporting the same on the pile comprising anannular follower block, in combination with a tubular extension on saidpiston located within said annular block, and a hammer cylindersurrounding said piston and adapted to impart its energy through saidblock to the pile. y

29. In a pile-driving engine for tubular piles, a stationary piston rodand piston, means for supporting the same comprising a cross-head, areciprocating hammer cylinder surrounding said piston, in combinationwith a feed tube connecting said crosshead with the cylinder and meansfor supplying fluid pressure through said tube to the said cylinder.

30. In a pile-driving engine for tubular piles, a stationary piston rodand piston, a cross-head to which said piston rod is secured incombination with a hammer cylinder surrounding said piston and a feedtube secured to said cross-head and having sliding engagement with saidcylinder to afford communication between the same and said cross-head.

31. In a pile-driving engine, a motordriven hammer mechanism and meansfor supporting the same, comprising a cap adapted to tit over the end ofthe pile, and a weight secured to said supporting means adjacent to theskirt of said cap.

v32. In a pile-driving engine, a motordriven hammer mechanism and meansfor supporting the same on the end of a pile in alinement therewith, incombination with a plurality of weights secured to said supporting meansand located in part at least below the level of the pile end.

88. In a pile-driving engine, a motordriven hammer mechanism and afollower block therefor having a recess, in combina- `tion with an anvilfor said block comprising a plurality of expanding sections and a keyfor holding the same in expanded relation in locking engagement with thewall of said recess.

34. In a pile-driving engine, a motordriven hammer mechanism, and afollower block therefor, having an undercut recess in combination withan annular anvil for said block comprised of a plurality of segments anda key for forcing said segments relatively apart into engagement withthe undercutl wall of said recess.

35. In a pile-driving engine, the combination with a supporting basetherefor formed as a cap adapted to surround the end of the pile, and afiller ring confined within said cap but having freedom for movementrelative thereto.

36. A pile driving engine having a hollow follower block adapted to reston the end of the pile, a hollow base portion resting on the followerblock and having telescopic engagement with the pile and motor andhammer elements for acting on said follower block provided with anaperture .therethrough. 4

37. A motor driven hammer mechanism having a support-ing base adapted toclose I name to the specification in the presence of Y two subscribingwitnesses.

AMASA B. CLARK.

Witnesses:v

A. HARRISON, D. ODAY.

Copies of this patent may Vbe obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents. Washington, DJG.

